Animated greeting card



J1me 1965 H. E. LOHNES 3,191,328

ANIMATED GREETING CARD Filed March 19, 1963 S Sheets-Sheet l 2 9 INVENTOR l/owqen f. lomvzs ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 H. E. LOHN ES ANIMATED GREETING CARD 5 Sheets-Sheet z Filed March 19, 1963 1N VENTOR.

G yon/42o 15. ZOII/YL'S ATTORNEYS June 29, 1965 H. E. LOHNES 3,

ANIMATED GREETING CARD Filed March 19, 1963 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IN VENTOR Alon/A20 lomvzs ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,191,328 ANIMATED GREETING CARD Howard Lohnes, Prairie Village, Kans., assignor to Hallmark Cards, Incorporated, Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Filed Mar. 19, 1963, Ser. No. 266,307 9 Claims. (Cl. 40-124.1)

This invention relates to greeting cards, and more particularly to a foldable animated card which when opened and closed has a movable panel between the cover and back thereof.

The principal object of the present invention is to provide an animated greeting card made from a single sheet of relatively stiff paper or cardboard having a cover andback banel with one part of the back panel cut out at substantially the center forming an object hingedly attached to said cut-out portion, and a portion of the card having a tab or tongue attached thereto to extend through the opening and adapted to be attached to the object to move the same upon opening and closing of the card. Other objects of the present invention are to provide an animated card from a single sheet of relatively stiff material substantially rectangular in shape and having one end reduced to form a tongue and having spaced score lines throughout the body of the paper and between two of said score lines, there being a cut or slit portion and a score along one side to hingedly attach the object in movable position; to provide for movement of the tongue through the opening formed by the movable object and fastening of the tongue to said movable object so as to cause said object to assume different positions upon opening and closing of the card, and to provide a device of this character simple and economical to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of illustration and example certain embodiments of this invention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the card shown in partly open position.

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the card showing the connection of the tongue member to the animated object.

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the card in further open position.

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the card in still further open position.

FIG. 5 is a plan View of the sheet of relatively stiff material showing the scored line, tongue and cut for the animated object.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a modified form of the card shown in a partly open position with parts broken away tobetter illustrate the same.

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the invention shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a plan view of the relatively stiff material showing the score lines and tab for making the card shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a still further modification of the card with parts broken away to better illustrate the same.

FIG. 10 is a cross sectional view of the card shown in FIG. 9 in slightly open position.

FIG. 11 is a cross sectional view similar to FIG. 10 with the card in open position.

FIG. 12 is a plan view of the relatively stiff sheet material with the score line tongue and cut-out portion illustrated therein before folding.

Referring more in detail of the drawings:

The numeral 1 designates a card embodying the features of my invention made from a single sheet of relatively stiff material 2 having a rectangular portion 3 and a tab end portion 4. Spaced substantially equidistance from each other across or transversely of the rectangular portion 3 are score lines 5, 6, 7 and 8. The tongue portion 4 also has transverse spaced score lines 9 and 10. The score lines, 5, 6, 7 and 8 separate the sheet into panel members marked A, B, C and D constituting the main body portion and the tongue portion forms a panel member marked E. The panel member B has an irregular cut or slit portion 11. and a score line 12, the cut portion forming an animated object 13 hingedly connecting the object to the panel member B. t

In forming the card, the sheet material 2 is folded on the fold line 6 forwardly and the panel member A folded on the score line 5 backwardly or in the opposite direction from the fold on the score line 6 to form a panel member or back cover 14. The sheet 2 is then folded on the score lines 7 including the panel members D and E backwardly or in the same direction as the panel member A. The tongue portion of panel member E is then folded inwardly, the fold line 8 being in alignment with fold line 6 but is spaced away from such fold as indicated in FIG. 2 in longitudinal alignment particularly when the card is in folded or nearly folded position. As the card is opened the fold line 8 moves away from longitudinal aligned score line 6 but runs more parallel therewith and spaced transversely thereof. The tab portion extends underneath the panel member A and the narrowed end or tapered portion of the panel member E extends through the opening 15, FIG. 1, and has its extreme outer end or tab portion 16 adhesively secured to the underneath side 17 of the animated object 13 near scored fold 12 as indicated at 18 (FIG. 2).

It will be noted that the tab portion is also hinged or bent on the score line 9 to allow the portion E to move forwardly and lie flat against the back of the panel member B with the animated object in extreme open position. The portion of the tab 19 between the score lines 9 and 10 moves underneath the portion 20 of the panel member B as illustrated in FIG. 4, and will continue to move the animated object 13 to a flat position when the card is completely open, as well as when the card is completely closed, by movement of the front cover, which will pull 7 the tab portion of panel member E along the back cover or panel member A causing the animated object 13 to move in response thereto.

It will also be noted that the position of the animated object 13 is substantially the same in both FIGS. 2 and 4 although the front cover or panel member D is in a different position, due to the interposition motion of the tongue panel member E and particularly the tab portion 19. In other words, by movement of the back and front cover toward and away from each other the object 13 will move. When the card is in completely open position with the back and front covers in substantial alignment the animated object will lie flat. When in about a half open position it will be in horizontal position as shown in FIG. 3. When the cover and back are closed it will reverse its motion and return to its original flat position.

When the card is folded the portion A is sealed by adhesive or the like as indicated at 21 (FIG. 1) to the back side of the panel member B on each side edge thereof and the panel members D and C when folded back to back may be adhesively secured together either by spots or over the entire area of panel member C as indicated at 22 (-FIG. 2)

Referring to the modified form of invention shown in FIGS. 6, 7 and 8, a single sheet of material 24 is composed of five basic panel members or portions: F, G, H,

I, and J. These panel members are defined by score lines 26, 27, 28 and 29 respectively. Panel members F and G are joined to panel members H, I and J at a predetermined angle at score line 27' this score line bisecting said angle, whereas score lines 26, 28 and 29 are perpendicular at both ends of the edges of material 24 at their points of intersection. Edge 25 of the portion F is angled to the adjacent edge of panel member F to a degree essentially double that of the angle formed by score 27 and the adjacent edge of panel member G. Panel member I has an irregular shape with a tongue extension composed of a neck 32 and a tab 33, defined by scores 34 and 35 respectively. Score lines 34 and 35 are set at such angles whereas if extended upward, would both pass through the point of intersection of the upper end of score line 29 and the edge of the material (FIG. 8).

An animated object 36. is partially cut out of panel member G and left hingedly connected only at score line 38, said score line in the illustrated example, but not necessarily being angled so that an extension of same would approach near the upper end of score line 27 at the edge of the material. In forming the card, sheet 24 is folded forwardly at score line 27 so that panel members H and G are face to face. Panel members I and J are then folded backwards at score line 28 so that the backs of panel members H and I come together, these two surfaces being adhesively secured to one another by all-over gluing between score lines 28 and 27, or by spots of adhesive so positioned to eifect a substantial bond of the same area. Panel member J is now folded .backwardly on score line 29 so that the back of panel member I lies flat against the back of panel member G. Tab portion 33 is folded under panel member I at score line 35 and is adhesively attached to the back of the cut out animated object 36 on panel member G. Tab 33 is so, positioned that its outer edge is in line with and lies directly over score line 38 of object 36. Panel member F is now folded back on score line 26 so that it covers panel members I and G and forms a back on the card, and being adhesively secured to portion G by spots of adhesive adjacent to the edges as indicated by 41 and 42 (FIG. 6) so positioned as to not impede the free movement of panel member I between surfaces of panel members F and G as the card is opened and closed.

As the card is opened, the animated object 35 is caused to be raised up out of the plane surface of panel member G, folding forward on score line 38. The forward motion of object 36 continues as the card is opened up to a position of essentially vertical with the plane surface of panel member G at the time the card is open 90. As the card is opened further, the direction of movement of object '36 reverses itself, moving back toward the surface of panel member G. As the card is opened flat to 180, the object 36 will have essentially returned to its flat position on panel member G. This process is repeated as the card is again closed.

This sequence of motion of object 36 is achieved by a specific relationship between the degrees in two particular anglescontained in the construction of the card. The number of degrees in the angle formed by score lines 27 and 29 when the card is completely assembled is essentially the same number of degrees as in the angle formed by score lines 34 and 35 whose vertex if score lines were extended to the point of intersection of score lines 29 and 27 when the card is assembled This factor allows the neck portion 32 to pivot 180 between score folds 34 and 35 while portions G and I also pivot 180 on scores 27 and 29 respectively as the card is opened. Motion of object 56 is thus achieved by virtue of the fact that it is cut away from the surface of panel member G and yet hingedly connected at 38, thus allowing it to respond to the pressure and pull of the neck panel member 32 of panel member I as it pivots in the confined area between adhesively connected panel members G and F. Pressure is transmittedto object 35, of course, due to the specific position at which tab 33 is adhesively attached as men tioned before.

In FIGS. 9, 10 l1 and 12 there is illustrated a still further modified form of card having a sheet of paper with a substantially rectangular section with panelmembers K, L and M in alignment with spaced score lines 45 and 46, the panel member M forming the front cover and the panel member K forming the back cover. Offset from one side of the panel member M and partially of the panel member L is a section or panel member N. In longitudinal alignment with the panel member N is a panel member or tab panel member 0 separated by score line 47 and the panel member N is provided with a score line 43 between panel member M. The portion between the panel member L and a part of the panel members N and O is provided with a slit or slot 49 and the panel member 0 is tapered as indicated at 5th and the extreme outer edge 51 is provided with a tongue 52 attached to the panel member 0 by a score line 53 and the tongue is provided with a score line 54 forming a tab 55.

The card is formed by folding the panel members N and 0 over to the left on the score line 48 adhesively securing the panel members N and M together substantially to the score line 45. That portion of panel member N from the score line 45 or at a point indicated at 56 outwardly to the score line 47 and panel member 0 is not secured to panel member L. The sheet is then folded on the score line 45 forwardly so that the panel member 0 is folded on the fold line 47 and extends along side of panel member L. The panel member K is then folded backwardly to lie over the panel member 0 and forming the back cover for the card. The back cover when folded is adhesively secured to a portion of the panel member 0 as indicated at 57 (FIGS. 10 and 1.1). The panel member L is provided with a substantially square opening as indicated at 58.

Secured to the panel member L above the opening 58 is an animatedobject 59 consisting of a sheet of relatively stiff material having a score line 6%, the object being secured to the face of the section L by adhesive as indicated at 61 (FIGS. 10- and 11). If desired the portion of the card above the object on panel member L may be provided with caricatures (not shown).

The tongue 52 when the sheet is folded extends through the opening 58 in the section L and the tab portion 55 adhesively secured to the under side of the object 59 as indicated at 62.. r In use of the card assuming it is in closed position opening of the cover portion will first cause the intermediate object to move from a fiat position when the back and cover are together to an outward position as shown in FIG. 10 and then further opening will cause the object 59 to substantially a right angular position to the section L and then further opening of the card will cause it to move back toward the panel member L as illustrated in FIG. 11. In this position the tongue will fold on the score line 54 as illustrated in FIG. 11 and then when thecard is fully closed it will lie fiat on the tab portion 55.

It will be obviousfrom the foregoing that I have provided an improved animated card which by opening the card by movement of the cover away from the back portion will cause the animated portion to assume multiple positions with respect to the card.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific form 101' arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

(1) An animated greeting card comprising? (a) a sheet member having a pair of panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated inner edges, a

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein, 7

(e) a fourth panel member hingedly attached to said third panel member and adapted to extend slidably along the outside of the other of said pair of panel members,

(f) said fourth panel member having a tongue portion 7 extending through said opening in said panel member,

(g) and means attaching said tongue to said movable member whereby opening and closing said card will animate said movable member.

2. An animated greeting card comprising:

(a) a sheet member having a pair of panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated inner edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein,

(c) a movable member hingedly connected to one edge of said opening,

((1) a third panel member secured to one of said pair of panel members and extending along one side thereof,

(e) a fourth panel member hingedly attached to said third panel member and adapted to extend slidably along the outside of the other of said pair of panel members,

(f) said fourth panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel member,

(g) means attaching said tongue to said movable member whereby opening and closing said card will animate said movable member,

(h) and a fifth panel member forming a back extending over a portion of said fourth panel member.

3. An animated greeting card comprising:

(a) a sheet member having a pair of panel members rotatable about'an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated inner edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein,

(c) a movable member hingedly connected to one edge of said opening,

(d) a third panel member secured to one of said pair of panel members and extending along the outside thereof, said third member extending beyond said hinge point of said pair of panel members,

(e) a fourth panel member hingedly attached to said third panel member and adapted to extend slidably along the outside of the other of said pair of panel members,

(f) said fourth panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel member,

(g) and means attaching said tongue to said movable member whereby opening and closing said card will animate said movable member.

4. An animated greeting card comprising:

(a) a sheet member having a pair of panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated inner edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein,

(c) a movable member hingedly connected to oneedge of said opening,

(d) a third panel member secured to one of said pair of panel members and extending along the outside thereof, said third member extending beyond said hingedly associated inner edges of said pair of panel members and having a score line transversely thereof,

(e) a fourth panel member hingedly attached to said third panel member along said transverse score line and adapted to extend slidably along the outside of the other of said pair of panel members,

(f) said fourth panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel member,

(g) means attaching said tongue to said movable member whereby opening and closing said card will animate said movable member,

(h) and a fifth panel member forming a back extending over a portion of said fourth panel member.

, 5. An animated greeting card comprising:

(d) a third panel member hingedly attached to one of said pair of said panel members and adapted to extend along the outside of the panel member with the opening therein,

(e) said third panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel member,

(f) and means attaching said tongue to said movable member whereby opening and closing said card will animate said movable member.

6. An animated greeting card comprising:

(a) a sheet member having a pair of facing panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated inner edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein,

(0) a movable member hingedly connected to one edge of said opening,

(d) a third panel member hingedly attached to one of said pair of said panel members and adapted to extend along the outside of the panel member with the opening therein,

(e) said third panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel member,

(f) means attaching said tongue to said movable member,

(g) said tongue including a transverse score line forming a hinge member whereby opening said card will cause said movable member to move in one direction and continued movement will cause said member to move in the opposite direction.

7. An animated greeting card comprising:

(a) a sheet member having a pair of facing panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated inner edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein,

(0) a movable member hingedly connected to one edge of said opening,

(d) a third panel member hingedly attached to one of said pair of said panel members and adapted to extend along the outside of the panel member with the opening therein,

(e) said third panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel memher,

(if) means attaching said tongue to said movable member,

(g) said opening in said panel member being at an angle to said hingedly connected edges of said pair of panels and said third panel having an edge por tion corresponding to the angle of the hinge portion of said movable member. 8. An animated greeting card comprising: (a) a sheet member having a pair of facing panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly'associated edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening'therein,

(c) a movable 'member'secured to the inside of said panel with said opening'therein and hingedly connected near one edge of said opening,

'(d) a third'panel member having a portion hingedly attached to one of said pair of panel members and adapted to extend slidably along the outside of the panel member with the opening therein,

(e) said third panel member having a'tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel member,

(f) and means attaching said tongue to said movable member whereby opening and closing said card will animate said movable member.

9. An animated greeting card comprising:

'(a) a "sheet member having a pair of facing panel members rotatable about an axis at their contiguous hingedly associated edges,

(b) one of said panel members having a cut-out portion forming an opening therein,

.(c) a movable member secured to the inside of said panel with said opening therein and hingedly connected near one edge of said opening,

(d) a third panel member having a portion hingedly attached to one of said pair of panel members and adapted to extend slidably along the outside of the panel member With the opening therein,

(e) said third panel member having a tongue portion extending through said opening in said panel mem- 'ber,

(f) means attaching said tongue to said movable member,

(g) said tongue including a'transverse-score'line forming a hinge member whereby opening said card will cause said movable member to move in one direction and continued movement will cause said member to move in the opposite direction.'

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 895,771 8/08 Lackner- 4634 1,854,225 4/32 Rosenthal 40-126 3,091,877 6/63 Luchsinger 40124.1

JEROME SCHNALL, Primary Examiner. 

